Jack Pokoj, a lizardfish’s open mouth reveals its last meal, Philippines. All images courtesy of Ocean Photographer of the Year, shared with permission
The 2023 Ocean Photographer of the Year Contest Highlights the Stunning Sights Above and Below the Surface
The waters surrounding the Philippines were fruitful for photographers this year, producing several winning images of the 2023 Ocean Photographer of the Year contest. From a boastful lizardfish to a tiny paper nautilus floating among volcanic debris, the lauded shots document marine life above and below the surface, glimpsing not only the stunning beauty of land and sea creatures but also the threats many face given a warming planet and rampant pollution. Some of our favorite photos are shown here, and if you’re in Sydney, you can see the full collection through May 26, 2024, at the National Maritime Museum.
Jialing Cai, a Paper Nautilus drifts on a piece of ocean debris at night, surrounded by heavy sediment, PhilippinesMichael Haluwana, illuminated by the Arctic sun, a polar bear walks across a glacier that is adorned by a waterfall, ArcticAndrei Savin, a crab sits in the centre of a sea anemone as it sways in ocean current, PhilippinesCraig Parry, a gentoo penguin, the fastest penguin species in the world, charges across the water, AntarcticaSylvie Ayer, a manatee enjoys the crystal-clear waters of the Homosassa River, FloridaRenee Cappozzola, a female paper nautilus with egg case rides a small jellyfish, taken on a blackwater dive, Anilao, PhilippinesFlorian Ledoux, a polar bear cub contends with the fragility of melting ice, Svalbard, Norway
